Under the red and blue stage lights of Emens Auditorium, Homecoming General Chair Hanna Kadinger crowned members of the 2019 Homecoming Royalty Court during the 35th annual Homecoming Talent Search.
Here is the 2019 Homecoming Court Royalty who will attend the rest of the Homecoming week festivities:
Queen:
Elizabeth Latham, Student Government Association
Elizabeth Latham, junior exercise science major, said she was excited to represent Student Government Association (SGA) Leaders and their beliefs as Homecoming Queen.
“I thought [being on the Homecoming Royalty Court] would be a great way to not only represent the school but also represent Student Government as an organization and just show that the leaders on campus are doing their part,” Latham said.
During her freshman year, Latham said, she helped backstage with Talent Search, and since then, she has been part of different aspects of the Homecoming celebration with Air Jam being her favorite.
“It is always such a fun, competitive, high-energy environment that brings a lot of the major clubs, groups [and] organizations together on campus,” Latham said. “I love seeing the work that everyone involved has put in, and it’s such a rewarding event.
Latham said she would like to thank her friends and family for supporting her throughout her journey to becoming a part of the 2019 Homecoming Royalty Court.
“I would like to thank God for always being my number one fan,” Latham said. “I would also like to thank my fellow Recreation staff members and Student Government Leaders for being my biggest support.”
King:
Connor Sanburn, Sigma Chi
Junior telecommunications major Connor Sanburn is crowned as the 2019 Homecoming King. Sanburn was nominated by Sigma Chi. Jacob Musselman, DN
Connor Sanburn, junior telecommunications major, said to him, Homecoming week is all about “Cardinal pride and Cardinal spirit.”
“In an age where so much is divided and so many people are just against one another, it’s important to have events like this to celebrate others and celebrate differences, and different organizations can come together and have a good time,” Sanburn said.
Sanburn’s fraternity, Sigma Chi, nominated him for the Homecoming Royalty Court during one of its chapter meetings. While Sanburn hasn’t been involved in Homecoming festivities before, he has attended Homecoming activities in past years, such as Bed Race and Air Jam.
“Community wise, I love the parade,” Sanburn said. “I attended [the parade] last year, and it was super cool to see all different types of people just coming together and just celebrating Ball State history.”
Sanburn said he has a “very deep sense of tradition at Ball State” because several members of his family are Ball State alumni.
“My grandparents went [to Ball State], and my dad and my dad’s sisters and brothers went here too,” Sanburn said. “It’s really cool to bring this home and show that I have that Cardinal spirit just like they did years ago.”
Queen Court members:
Emily Niehaus, Kappa Delta
Emily Niehaus, senior interpersonal communications major, said it was an “honor” to be chosen to represent her sorority, Kappa Delta, who has encouraged her to be confident and instill confidence in others as well.
“[Kappa Delta] truly set the foundation and allowed me to take advantage of opportunities that would provide me with professional development, networking skills, leadership roles and a better understanding of the Greek, Ball State and Muncie community,” Niehaus said.
Even after she graduates, Niehaus said she hopes to use her Homecoming Court title to represent Ball State with “class and authenticity.”
“I would like to use [my Homecoming Court title also] as a platform to share the purpose of my Honors Thesis and my future career path in which I intend both to be centered on corporate responsibility,” Niehaus said.
Niehaus said she would like to thank her sorority sisters and academic and Greek advisers for their support as well as recognize her friends, professors and managers for their patience and flexibility with her busy schedule so she could get the most out of her Ball State experience.
“Lastly, I would like to thank both my family and my boyfriend for their support and guidance throughout my college years,” Niehaus said. “There is nothing that I can say that will ever amount to how important they are to me.”
Shannon Borner, Delta Zeta
Ida Cage, Mu Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
Yula Sung, Alpha Gamma Delta
The Daily News reached out to Borner, Cage and Sung but did not receive a response.
King Court members:
Cole Cochard, FIJI
Since his freshman year, Cole Cochard, senior landscape architecture major, has been involved in his fraternity, FIJI, who nominated him for the Homecoming Royalty Court.
“In my four years at Ball State, FIJI has been a staple in my life, teaching me how to grow as a young man while instilling the values of FIJI in me and how to use those in my daily life,” Cochard said. “FIJI has definitely shaped me into the man I am today. Without it, I would not have gotten as involved as I am and met the great people I know.”
Cochard said he plans to use his Homecoming Court title to show the Ball State community these values he has learned from his fraternity.
“It's also such an honor to be chosen to the court, and I think any way that I can express my excitement and thankfulness for being chosen is a priority,” Cochard said.
Cochard would like to thank not only FIJI for nominating him but also his friends and fraternity brothers for supporting him throughout the Homecoming Royalty Court process.
“The amount of support I received was amazing and shows what good friends and people I have in my life,” Cochard said. “[I would also like to thank] my parents for raising me to be the man I am and instilling in me great values at a young age that I still carry with me.”
Scott Archer, University Singers
Evan Bayles, Lambda Chi Alpha
Matt Cuskaden, Phi Delta Theta
The Daily News reached out to Archer, Bayles and Cuskaden but did not receive a response.
This story will be updated.
Contact Nicole Thomas with comments nrthomas3@bsu.edu or on Twitter @nicolerthomas22.
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